Hypermasculinity
Hypermasculinity refers to an exaggerated adherence to culturally defined male norms, privileging toughness, aggression, stoicism, and dominance. It is not a universal trait but a socially constructed script that can vary across time and place. The term is used in gender studies and psychology to describe patterns of behavior that depart from more flexible models of masculinity.
Common features include emphasis on physical strength, risk-taking, emotional control, sexual conquest, and the devaluation of
Research links hypermasculinity to higher aggression and violence, including intimate partner violence, and to risky health
Critics argue that focusing on hypermasculinity can overlook diverse male experiences and risk pathologizing normal variation.